Two of the most common spice mixes are apple pie spice and pumpkin pie spice. The combination of spices that make up each blend is so commonly used (because they are complimentary) when baking with apples and pumpkin that the blends are packaged and sold alongside “regular” spices in the baking aisle of the supermarket. They are frequently called for in recipes without much explaination of what each mix actually is, so when you encounter them on a list of ingredients you have two choices: use the mix or make your own.

Apple pie spice typically consists of cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice, with cinnamon making up the bulk of the mixture. Pumpkin pie spice usually includes cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves, again with cinnamon making up most of the mix. The beauty of mixing your own is that you can tweak the ratios to ensure that you get the precise flavor you want every time. As cardamom becomes more popular, it is appearing in small amounts in some of these spice mixes (Trader Joe’s pumpkin pie spice uses it this year, for instance) as well. I like a bit in my pumpkin pie spice and am a fan of including a bit of ginger in my apple pie mix.

Combine all ingredients for desired mix and blend well. Store in a small, airtight container. Feel free to experiment with amounts to get a blend that works for you.

*If using freshy ground nutmeg, you might want to cut back a little bit because the flavor can be quite strong. Since you’re going to be storing the mix anyway, it is not crucial to use freshly ground here. I personally find it to be a bit overwhelming if there is a ton of nutmeg in something.